Fließenden

Fließenden is a form of the German adjective fließend, meaning flowing or smooth. It is derived from the verb fließen (to flow) and is used as an attributive adjective. In German, adjectives take endings according to case, gender, number, and the determiner that accompanies them. The form fließenden appears in several grammatical contexts, typically after definite articles or other determiners.

Common occurrences include: Den fließenden Fluss (accusative masculine singular); Dem fließenden Fluss (dative masculine singular); Die fließenden Flüsse (nominative plural); Den fließenden Flüssen (dative plural). Each of these forms uses the ending -en on the adjective, reflecting its role after definite articles in these cases. The same ending can appear in other cases and numbers with different determiners.

Usage and nuance: fließend can describe physical flow, as in water or rivers, but also figurative continuity or smoothness, such as a fluent speaking style or seamless transitions. When fließend is used as an adverb, it is typically fließend (not fließenden) and does not carry the -en ending. The form fließenden is specifically the declined participle adjective form used in attributive positions under certain case/gender/number combinations.

Etymology: fließenden derives from fließen, with the present participle ending -end, and the German adjective declension system providing the -en ending in the corresponding cases and numbers.